Buffer



March 20, 1951 J. H. LE RETTE BUFFER Filed Dec. 30, 1948 ZZZW Patented Mar. 20; 1951 BUFFER Jerome H. Le Bette, Palos Heights, 111. Application December 30, 1948, Serial N 0. 68,262

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a buffer and more particularly to a flexible or fabric buffer adapted to receive abrasive, etc., applied to its peripheral edge portions.

An object of the invention is to provide a buffer wheel having segments which move in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, depending upon its rotation, for adapting its contour to irregular shapes of the metal or other surface being treated. Yet another object is to provide a buifer formed of integral fabric disks or sheets with peripheral segments which flex upon a plurality of pivots in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. A still further object is to provide buffer wh els formed of thin flexible fabric strips or disks stitched together throughout and having spaced edge portions which flex not only as edge portions in a clockwise or counterclcclv wise direction but also flex upon individual pivot points provided by the stitches. Still another object is to provide in a buffer wheel a thin fabric disk having its central portion perforated and its outer peripheral portion cut to form V spaces therein, said disk being adapted to be combined with a large number of other disks in the forming of a buffer wheel having flexing outer edges. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown in illustrative embodiments, by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a buffer embodying my invention; Fig. 2, an edge view in elevation; Fig. 3, an edge view in elevation of a pluraiity of the buffers clamped upon a drive shaft to form a buffer wheel; Fig. 4, a top plan view of a modified form of flexible buffer; and Fig. 5, a broken plan view if another modified form of buffer embodying my invention.

In the illustration given in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I

employ a plurality of thin flexible sheets or disks I which are united by stitching l I, the stitching forming diagonal lines with respect to the periphery of the disk. The buffer .wheel or pad is formed by uniting many plies of the thin flexible material. For example, the buffer pad shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be 10-ply, 24-ply or may consist of any number of the separate sheets or disks l0. The outer edge portion of each disk i0 is preferably cut away to provide a V-shaped space l2 and the center of the pad may be cut away to form a central opening l3.

A number of the pads formed as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be combined upon a single drive shaft l4 equipped with an inner collar [5 and with a nut-equipped clamping collar IE5, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. The pads may be brought together in any desired way with the spaces at the peripheral edge thereof brought into various aligned positions. In the illustration given in Fig. 3, the spaces extend diagonally across the peripheral edge of the buffer wheel. The spaces, however, may be grouped in V shape and in a great variety of shapes and, is desired, the V spaces may be arranged in staggered relation. I prefer to have them in some pattern alignment to provide an escape channel for material removed from the article being treated.

In the operation of the structure, abrasive or other treating material may be applied to the outer edge portion of the buiiing wheel and, upon rotation thereof, the peripheral edge of the wheel is brought into contact with the surface to be treated. The V spaces permit the fingers I! on either side thereof to flex in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction depending upon the rotation of the wheel. Further, I find that the provision of the stitches adjacent the edge portions of the individual disks or sheets permits also a. multiple flexing of the edge portions upon such stitches as pivots, thus giving the disk unusually effective adaptation to irregular surfaces on the article being treated.

The fabric forming the individual disk or sheet may be formed of cotton, felt, sisalin, and other fibers, etc., so as to provide a body whose exe treme edge portions flex in accommodating their edge portions to such irregular surfaces.

Whil the stitching shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, is particularly effective because of the angular relation of the stitches at the periphery of the wheel, it will be understood that the stitches may be formed in other ways and in other patterns. In Fig. 4, circular stitching I8 is employed while in Fig. 5, spiral stitching I9 is employed.

It will be understood that considerable variations may be made from the structures described in order to produce buiiers for different uses. For example, if a softer buffer is desired, the pad is preferably formed of a greater number of plies while when a harder buffer is desired the pad is formed of a lesser number of plies. Further, the extent of the V cuts may vary. I prefer to have the V cuts about one-third of the radius of the wheel but this will vary depending upon different uses. By employing a single sheet or disk which is unitary throughout and by providing the stitches as described, an extremely sturdy and effective buffer is-obtained providing a broad edge portion adapted to receive the adhesive, etc., while at the same time effectively flexing not only upon the hinges provided by the V spaces but upon the individual pivots provided by the stitching.

While I have shown in the specific drawings V-shaped spaces, it will be understood that such spaces may be U-shaped, curved spaces, or spaces of any other desirable shape, producing between the spacing fingers or segments which will flex toward or away from each other. Further, the stitching may be omitted entirely or the stitching may be concentrated in the area about the flexing fingers.

The buffer or wheel produced by bringing together a plurality of the disks on a shaft is useful not only as a buffing wheel but also as a wheel for supporting an abrasive belt, etc.

While in the foregoing specification, I have set forth structures in considerable detail for the purpose of setting out illustrative embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A buffer comprising a circular pad consisting of individual unitary flexible fabric sheets having a central opening and having notches formed in their peripheral portions to provide fingers with flexing spaces therebetween, said fingers being aligned transversely whereby said flexing spaces therebetween provide escape channels for material removed, and stitching uniting said sheets into a pad with said sheet fingers aligned, said stitching consisting of threads forming rows of stitches extending across said sheets in opposite directions and also extending through 4 said finger portions of the sheets, said stitches at the points of junction between said fingers and the body of the buffer providing pivots for the movable flexing of said fingers thereon.

2. A buffer comprising a circular pad consisting of individual unitary flexible fabric sheets having a central opening and having V notches formed in their peripheral portions to provide fingers with flexing spaces therebetween, said fingers being aligned transversely whereby said flexing spaces therebetween provide escape channels for material removed, and stitching uniting said sheets into a pad with said sheet fingers aligned, said stitching consisting of threads forming rows of stitches extending across said sheets in opposite directions and also extending through said finger portions of the sheets, said stitches at the points of junction between said fingers and the body of the bufier providing pivots for the movable flexing of said fingers thereon.

JEROME H. LE BETTE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 291,610 Levett Jan. 8, 1884 537,687 Keighley Apr. 16, 1895 608,171 Birely Aug. 2, 1898 1,820,465 Levett Aug. 25, 1931 1,946,630 Levett Feb. 13, 1934 2,146,284 Churchill Feb. '7, 1939 2,146,548 Mitschang et al Feb. 7, 1939 

